Organizer Information
The Equisoain Art Residency Program is an emerging, pilot-phase residency initiative located in Navarra, Spain, situated within a restored 15th-century bioclimatic tower-house embedded in a natural ecosystem. The program operates as part of the Eternal Forest Network, a broader ecological-cultural framework that connects artistic practices with forest-based regeneration, ecological awareness, and site-specific research.
Rather than functioning as a conventional institutional residency, Equisoain positions itself as a hybrid between an ecological retreat, an experimental studio environment, and a research-based laboratory for contemporary artistic practice. Its infrastructure emphasizes low-impact living, direct engagement with surrounding landscapes, and interdisciplinary exchange between resident artists and invited mentors.
The residency is structured to support both individual artistic production and collective ecological inquiry, with a strong emphasis on process-based work, embodied methodologies, and material experimentation grounded in the local environment.
Title & Description
Equisoain Residencies 2026–2027 (Pilot Edition & Spring Cycle)
The Equisoain Residency invites artists to participate in a 15-day immersive program situated in direct dialogue with forest ecosystems, river landscapes, and rural ecological systems in Navarra. The residency is conceived as a “living laboratory” where artistic practice intersects with ecological observation, material research, and somatic awareness.
Artists are encouraged to engage in practices that respond to natural systems through site-responsive creation, including biomaterial gathering, earth-based pigment production, sound exploration, performance, and land-based interventions. The residency prioritizes methodologies that move beyond studio isolation and instead activate the landscape as both collaborator and medium.
Two editions are offered:
- Pilot Edition (Autumn 2026): September 20 – October 5 (15 days)
- Spring Edition (2027): June 1 – June 15 (15 days)
Participants will work in shared and open environments, including a large indoor studio space and outdoor decks, while engaging in guided ecological and somatic practices designed to deepen perception and environmental attunement.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Land Art / Environmental Art
- Performance Art
- Sound Art / Experimental Music
- Interdisciplinary / Hybrid Practices
- Ecological / Research-Based Art
- Material and Process-Oriented Practices (pigments, natural materials, etc.)
Eligibility
- International and national artists
- Emerging, mid-career, and established practitioners
- Artists whose practice meaningfully engages with ecology, landscape, or natural processes
- Practitioners working in experimental, research-driven, or site-specific formats
The residency explicitly prioritizes artists whose work demonstrates a direct conceptual or material dialogue with nature, ecosystems, or environmental transformation. There are no stated age restrictions.
Program Benefits & Awards
- 15-day residency accommodation in an eco-sustainable 15th-century tower-house
- Access to shared studio facilities (119 m² indoor studio + 77 m² outdoor deck)
- Full immersion in surrounding forests, river systems, and landscape environments
- Participation in guided Insight Art sessions and forest-based somatic walks led by Eliana Perinat
- Optional workshop: “Inks, Matter and Landscape” focused on earth pigments, bark, and plant-based materials (with Isabel Moltó)
- Optional mentorship from established practitioners (Eduardo Bonito, Livia Diniz, Isabel Ferreira, Eliana Perinat)
- Opportunities for public presentations or community-engaged artistic interventions
- Potential inclusion in local community workshops and exchanges
- Institutional support for mobility funding applications (see below)
Funding pathways include:
- Support for AC/E PICE grants (for Spanish artists or residents in Spain), covering travel, fees, and production costs
- Letters of invitation for international applicants applying for external mobility programs such as Culture Moves Europe
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Artist biography (CV or professional summary)
- Portfolio or dossier of previous work
- Research proposal focused on interaction with the Equisoain ecosystem
- Conceptual outline describing intended engagement with landscape, materials, or ecological processes
Applications are framed as research-oriented submissions rather than purely formal artistic portfolios.
How to Apply?
Applications are submitted by contacting the residency directly and sending the required materials by email to: artresidency@equisoain.com
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 15 August 2026
- Autumn 2026 Residency: September 20 – October 5, 2026
- Spring 2027 Residency: June 1 – June 15, 2027
Location
Navarra, Spain
Additional Details
Equisoain emphasizes ecological integration and artistic responsibility toward landscape systems. The residency encourages practices that engage with biomaterials, somatic awareness, environmental listening, and process-based creation.
Some workshops are open to local communities, fostering exchange between resident artists and regional participants. The residency is also designed as a pilot edition, suggesting an evolving structure that may adapt in future cycles based on participant input and ecological engagement outcomes.
Artists are expected to be comfortable with immersive rural conditions and collaborative living environments. The residency is particularly suitable for those interested in long-term ecological research, experimental fieldwork, and embodied artistic methodologies.